Best Implement for...

[yeager31]

Hi Guys,

Situation: New house construction with dirt lawn at this time. Has lots of roots mixed in and looking for best implement to remove or pulverize. Would ideally be useful in the management of the rest of the property, ~4.5 acres that is mostly wooded at this time. I will be leaving several trees, but ultimately want to clear selectively so that the land is navigable.

Haven't purchased even a tractor yet, but looking at Kubota 3130/3430 class of machines.

 

[knute_m]

A box blade (scraper) would let you rip a lot of the roots out, it would let you move a lot of dirt, and it would let you level the ground for planting grass or other cover.

In the long run, it is probably the best tool for grooming a gravel driveway.

Good luck,
Knute

 

[Highbeam]

I use my boxblade to clean roots and then smooth the ground for planting. Be prepared to deal with a huge pile of muddy/dirty roots. They aren't easy to burn.

 

[harleyx142]

I had the same problem and borrowed a landscape rake that really helped pick up a ton of the loose roots and debris. It worked great.
I also used the box blade but the rake seperated alot of the debris and allowed much of the dirt to filter through.
Good Luck!

 

[bamatoolmaker]

I would consider purchasing a FEL/w tooth bar with the tractor.You can do alot with just that

 

[patrick_g]

Yeager31, With apologies to toolmaker, I think the box blade, especially one with hydraulic raise/lower scarifier teeth is the superior tool for this and will be extremely useful for many other tasks. You will like and can certainly use a good FEL with or without teeth on the bucket for many things but I don't think it is first choice for this particular task. You will want both considering all the kinds of things you may end up doing. I have the FEL bucket on the front and box blade on the rear more than any other single combination of implements but for what you are doing if I could only have one implement it would be the box blade even though the FEL might be more versatile overall, not for this task. Oh, and do consider hydraulic TNT (Top aNd Tilt) for the 3PH. It makes the box blade so much better it is almost unimaginable till you see the difference. IT helps with grader blades and many other implements too. I too have a rake but with TNT I can use the scarifier teeth as a rake pretty well when I don't want to have to change back and forth between implements a lot. Not knocking the rake though but of course it isn't recommended for the job yo have at hand, by itself. . . Pat

 

[harleyx142]

I too would recommend buying the box blade as the best implement for all-around use. If I had to choose between buying a box blade and the rake it would be the box blade. I would recommend the use of a landscape rake if you have access. The rake gets so much of the little scraps of root, bark and twigs and quickly puts them in a pile. The box blade really helped yank the roots out of the ground that were left after excavation.

 

[bamatoolmaker]

I apologize for my previous post.I was in a hurry and did not proofread it.The point I wanted to get across was that if you have not bought a tractor yet consider a FEL with your purchase before any other implements.I consider the loader invaluable.No it will not replace a landscaping rake or a box blade as each have their own uses.You can finance the loader with the tractor then buy the implements as need them.Sorry if i am out of line just trying to help.

 

[HTWT]

If you have rental store around you that has a Harley rake(power box rake) and you have a rear remote this machine will work circles around any other piece of equipment for cleaning up and leveling and smoothing out your lawn. It runs off the pto with a revolving drum that kick out roots, stones, cement, or any other thing not belonging there. It is not a piece of equipment that you would buy unless you would use it very often. New cost around $8000. It usally rents for 150-175/ day.

 

[Hard]

A boxblade and a landscape rake. Have fun...